IDP child killed in accidental drowning

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 05:44 GMT]A two-year old Internally Displaced child died at Kaluwanchchikkudy IDP Transit Camp by accidentally falling into a small pond while its mother was bathing in the pond. This tragedy happened around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday while the mother was bathing having placed the child near the pond.

As the IDPs in Batticaloa district face many problems in the Transit Camps including water and sanitation, they are compelled to use water for bathing and washing clothes, from improvised ponds where rainwater is collected. The child fell in such a pit and died.

The authorities supply water to the camps advise the refugees to use the water only for drinking purpose.

Meanwhile, P. Ariyaneththiran, the Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian for Batticaloa district said death could have been avoided if the authorities had supplied adequate water to the Transit camps.